Western MPs Disregard Parliament Recall As Petitioners Close in on Required Signatures

In shortSome NRM-leaning Members of Parliament from western Uganda have distanced themselves from the ongoing collection of signatures to recall the house from recess. Last week, a group of MPs embarked on the collection of signatures to petition the Speaker to reconvene parliament amidst what they call an attack on the independence of parliament by President Yoweri Museveni.

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Some NRM-leaning Members of Parliament from western Uganda have distanced themselves from the ongoing collection of signatures to recall the house from recess.

Last week, a group of MPs embarked on the collection of signatures to petition the Speaker to reconvene parliament amidst what they call an attack on the independence of parliament by President Yoweri Museveni.

The move followed the arrest of MPs Chris Baryomunsi for Kinkiizi East and Mohammed Nsereko for Kampala central over the comments they made after the sudden death of Butaleja Woman legislator Cerinah Nebanda. Nebanda, 24, died two weeks ago shortly after being admitted at Mukwaya General Clinic, Nsambya. Government has since released a report indicating that she died of a drug overdose, a claim dismissed by some MPs who say the vocal legislator could have been poisoned by government agents.

The MPs also want parliament to discuss Speaker Rebecca Kadaga’s row with the Executive over her remarks on the cause of death of Nebanda.

The Buhweju district woman Member of Parliament Joy Karisa however says she does not associate herself with the move because it’s not necessary to have parliament recalled at this time.

Karisa advised her colleagues to go and concentrate on their constituencies instead of engaging in what she termed as unfounded rumors that NRM government killed Nebanda.

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Retired Major Bright Rwamirama, the minister for animal husbandry and fisheries, who also represents Isingiro North constituency, says the action by some MPs to solicit signatures to recall parliament is uncalled for.

Rwamirama says the MPs should have kept calm and waited for the final results of the investigations into the cause of death of Nebanda’s death in order for them to make conclusive statements.

Despite disregarding their move, the lead petitioners say they are left with 10 signatures to get the required number of 125 in order to recall parliament.

Rwampara county MP Vincent Kyamadidi who is leading the team from western Uganda earlier today told URN they had secured over 100 signatures on the petition, but his Masaka Municipality counterpart, Mathias Mpuuga told journalists at Parliament that they almost have enough signatures to petition the Speaker to recall the house.

Western youth MP Gerald Karuhanga says they have been encountering a number of threats from some NRM-leaning legislators advising them to drop the idea.